Both the Hawaiʻi Senate and House of Representatives presented University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s William S. Richardson Law School Dean Avi Soifer with certificates of recognition on Friday, February 14, honoring the law school on its 40th anniversary.
The certificates were presented in brief ceremonies by Senator Brian Taniguchi and Representative Linda Ichiyama—both are graduates of the UH Mānoa law school.
During the presentation, Taniguchi recalled some of those early years at the law school, including being “serenaded by pile-driving” as the UH swimming pool was being worked on. He was a member of the third graduating class in 1978.
Taniguchi also paid homage to the school’s namesake, Chief Justice William S. Richardson. “CJ Richardson believed all qualified residents of Hawaiʻi should have the option of an excellent legal education.”
The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court’s current Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald was in the gallery and joined Soifer for photos with legislators.
